Hex-head aligner for screw slotting machines

ABSTRACT

This aligning device is designed to insure slotting the heads the long dimension from point to point diametrically of the head using opposed flats on the heads for such alignment. Two legs pivotally connected together at one end are disposed in straddling relationship to the space between the dial and a fixed slide plate in substantially tangential relationship to the dial and are spring pressed toward one another to provide sliding aligning contact of a longitudinally extending rib on one leg, first with a flat on one side of each head and later similar engagement of another rib on the inner side of the other leg with a flat on the opposite side of the head shortly before the blank arrives at the first of two spaced coplanar saw blades for the slotting of the head diametrically thereof in the turning of the dial. Means is provided for adjusting the spacing of the legs to suit different sizes of heads.

United States Patent [191 Jackson [451 Sept. 25, 1973 HEX-HEAD ALIGNER FOR SCREW SLOTTING MACHINES [76] Inventor: Warren M. Jackson, 5013 Sovereign Blvd, Rockford, Ill.

[22] Filed: Apr. 6, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 131,732

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 836,245, June 25, 1969, Pat. No.

['52] US. Cl 10/6, 10/162 A, 10/169 [51] Int. Cl. B23g 9/00 [58] Field of Search 10/2, 3, 5, 6, 19, 10/20, 20.5, 162 A, 169; 193/43 R, 43 D; 198/33 AB; 221/171, 173

1 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 988,802 4/19l1 Millington et al. 10/5 1,085,631 2/1914 Reed 10/5 5 1,277,367 9/1918 Blasier 10/19 2,763,877 9/1956 Smerz 10/5 3,111,697 11/1963 Wilson 10/6 668,180 2/1901 Haskins 10/20 2,266,864 12/1941 Hausknecht 10/162 A 907,116 12/1908 Baker ..l98/33AB Primary Examiner-Richard .1. Herbst Assistant Examiner-E. M. Combs Attorney-Andrew F. Wintercorn [5 7] ABSTRACT This aligning device is designed to insure slotting the heads the long dimension from point to point diametrically of the head using opposed flats on the heads for such alignment. Two legs pivotally connected together at one end are disposed in straddling relationship to the space between the dial and a fixed slide plate in substantially tangential relationship to the dial and are spring pressed toward one another to provide sliding aligning contact of a longitudinally extending rib on one leg, first with a flat on one side of each head and later similar engagement of another rib on the inner side of the other leg with a flat on the opposite side of the head shortly before the blank arrives at the first of two spaced coplanar saw blades for the slotting of the head diametrically thereof in the turning of the dial. Means is provided for adjusting the spacing of the legs to suit different sizes of heads.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Pmmmstrzww 3.760.443

snmurz flu/6W Warren Ilka/5072 r I/ PAIENTEDISEPZSIQH SHEEI 2 UP 2 v iIn-I HEX-HEAD ALIGNER FOR SCREW SLOTTING MACHINES This application is a division of my co-pending application, Ser. No. 836,245, filed June 25, 1969, now US. Pat. No. 3,585,665.

The invention relates to new and improved screwhead aligning features especially designed for use with hex-heads to insure slotting the heads the long dimension from point'to point diametrically of the head using opposed flats on the heads for aligning purposes.

The aligner, inaccordance with my invention, has two legs suitably connected together at one end and disposed in straddling relationship to the space between the dial and a fixed side plate, in substantially tangential relationship to the dial and spring pressed toward one another to provide sliding aligning contact of a'longitudinally extending rib on one leg first with a flaton one side of each head and later similar engagement of another rib on the inner side of theother leg with a flat on the other side of the head shortly before theblankarrives at the first of two spaced coplanar saw blades for the slotting of the heads diametrically thereof in the turning of thedial, and there being means for adjusting the spacing of the legs to suit different sizes of heads.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of enough of a screw slotting machine to satisfactorily illustrate the aligner in its relationship to the slitting saws and shank gripping means; FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG.'1', showing a portion of the gear housing broken away tobetter illustrate the FIG. 1, turns in a counterclockwise direction'carrying screws 8 by their shank-portions 9 in radial grooves or notches 10 while the heads 11 are being slotting diametrically, as at 12 in FIG. 2, the long dimension from one 'of the points 13 to the diametrically opposite one, the screws being aligned by means of opposed flats 14 on the heads 11 preliminary to the slotting, as will pres-' ently appear, and after being aligned being gripped firmly by the shank portions 9 during the slotting operation. This is a two-stage operation, in the first of which a thinner circular saw 15 cuts a narrow slot of irregular depth leaving a burr where the saw leaves the end of the slot as the screwhead passes saw 15, the wavy line motion of saw 15 being due to the oscillation of this saw which insures having the burr at such an elevation'with ing, clip off the burr at the end of the slot. The straight line mentioned should be described as only a substantially straight line as, of course, the screwheads 11 are moved past the two saws 15 and 16 on a radius of about 10 inches, the dial 7 being or a 20 inch diameter. Flanges may ormay not be provided on the hex-heads but it will soon appear that the present aligner can operate just as efficiently on screws with as without such flanges. Saw l5 turnsin a counterclockwise direction to insure having the burr at the outgoing end of the slot, while saw 16 turns in a clockwise direction to insure its clipping off the burr as it completes the widening and routing out of the slot 12 to its full depth.

The stationary side plate 18, relative to which the dial 7 turns, provides adequate clearance for the shanks 9 of the screws 8 as the screw blanks are fed to the dial 7 head up and shank down into the notches 10 of the dial. This looseness of the screws facilitates the aligning of heads 11 between the legs of the aligner 19 that is disposed tangent to the dial 7 as seen in FIG. 1 and straddles the space between the dial 7 and side plate 18 as seen in FIG. 2, the two legs of the aligner being pivoted at their upper ends, as at 20, in the plane of the clearance space between the dialand side plate on a suitable fixed support 21 on the side plate and being urged toward one another by a coiled tension spring 22 to align the flat 14 on one side of each head first by means of a longitudinally extending rib 23 on the inner side of one leg of the aligner 19-and later by engagement with another longitudinally extending rib 24 on the inner side of the other leg shortly before the screwhead arrives at the saw 15 in the't-urning of the dial 7. An adjusting screw 25 threaded in a lug 26 on one leg of the aligner 19 and abutting a lug 27 on the other leg limits the closing of the aligner. A lock nut 28 on the screw 25 serves be abutment withthe lug 26 to maintain the adjustment. It should be clear that since the aligner 19 works on the flats 14 it fnakes no difference so far as this aligner is concerned whether the heads 11 are as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 or have flanges thereon. The aligning of the heads 11 by means of the flats 14 insures having the preliminary slot cut diametrically of respect to the ultimate bottom of the slot 12 to be certain of its being clipped off by the climb cutting'second circular saw 16. The latter is thicker than saw 15 and operates along a substantially straight line to not only widen the slot 12 to the full width but also rout out along the bottom of the slot its full length, and, in so dothe head from one point 13 to the other when that is wanted. Slotting may, of course, be done at random without such alignment. Promptlyafter the screwhead 11 engages the rib 24 and while the screwhead is still aligned between the two ribs 23 and 24, one side of the shank 9 comes into tight engagement with an elongated hardened rib 29provided on the inner side of the side plate 18 to hold the screw 8 jammed in the notches 10 through the slotting operation so there is no danger of the screwhead losing its alignment, the shank 9 sliding along the inner face of this hardened rib 29 from a point slightly ahead of the cutting of the preliminary slot by saw 15 to a point slightly beyond where the saw 16 makes the finishing cut of slot 12 as is quite clearly shown in FIG. 1. This gripping is important whether the aligner 19 is used or not. The slotted screws leaving the saw 16 are, therefore, just as lossely engaged in notches 10 as-they were at the point of being deposited in the notches from a feed mechanism (not shown). Hence, they are adapted to drop off the dial 7 onto a discharge chute 30 which can be disposed atany convenient location with respect to the lower half of the dial 7 where the slotted screws will drop by gravity into the chute, or, as shown in FIG. 1, the sideplat'e 18 may have its lower edge 31 or that of a'cut away portion so located 'with respect to the chute as to insure gravity dropping of the slotted screws into the chute 30 as soon as they emerge from behind the side plate 18.

The vertically spaced parallel horizontal spindles 32 and 33, on which the saws and 16 are mounted, have bearing support in a head 34 that is oscillatable in a vertical plane about the horizontal axis of spindle 33 by means'of a rotary cam 35 and follower roller 36, the latter being mounted in a bracket 37 fixed to the head 34 and having a coiled compression spring 38 bearing against the back of it to urge the head 34 to swing outwardly, keeping the roller 36 in tight contact with the cam 35, which, once per revolution, urges the head 34 to swing inwardly to the extent of 0.020 inch to 0.025 inch oscillation. It is, of course, important that the spindle 39 turn the cam 35 once per screw 8 and, of course, also in proper timed relationship to the arrival of each screwhead 11 at the saw 15 so as to have the peaks on the wavy line of slotting at the outgoing end of each slot, in order to locate the burr correctly in relation to the plane of the substantially straight line along which the saw 16 operates, so as to be certain of its clipping off the burr in the climb cutting operation of saw 16. Such driving of the cam 36 is assured by a drive belt 41 driving the pulley 42, this drive belt being driven by a pulley (not shown) the speed of which bears the right relationsip to the driving of the dial 7 to give one turn to cam 35 per notch 10 in the dial. Idler pulleys 43 and 44 carried on adjustably fixed crank arms 45 and 46, respectively, are necessary for restoring the proper tension in the drive belt 41 when the base 47 is adjusted forwardly by a screw 48, as when there is need for compensating for wear of the saws 15 and 16 so as to keep both saws slotting to the full desired depth. Bolts 49 that clamp the base 47 to the bed 50 extend through parallel slots in the base 47 and have to be loosened when such an adjustment is made and thereafter tightened again. Screw 51 threads into a hole 52 in base 47, and is used for adjusting the base in the opposite direction, as when new saws are provided at 15 and 16 and readjustment of the machine is necessary. Lateral adjustment of the base 47 for accurately aligning the saws 15 and 16 with. respect to the screwheads can be made in any suitable way, as by screws 53 and 54, the parallel slots receiving the bolts 49 being wide enough to allow for this minor adjustment. A screw 55 operable by hand wheel 56 pivotally adjusts the bracket 57 about its supporting pivot 58 to predetermine very closely the depth I to which the saw 15 will cut in making the preliminary slot 12', lock nuts at 59 and 60 being tightened to maintain the fine adjustment. Nuts 61 threading on the screw 55 serve to back up the spring 38, and these can be adjusted to maintain the desired spring loading of bracket 37 and head 34, the bracket 37, as indicated at 62, having ample clearance with respect to the screw 55 so as not to interfere with the freedom of oscillation of the bracket 37 with the head 34.

An electric drive motor 63 is directly coupled to the spindle 33 to transmit clockwise rotation to the saw 16, while a gear 64 fixed on spindle 33 transmits drive to spindle 32 through another gear 65 to turn saw 15 in a counterclockwise direction at the same speed as saw 16.

' It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my invention. While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, this is only for the purpose of illustration, and it is to be understood that various modifications in structure will occur to a person skilled in this art.

I claim:

1. In a screw slotting machine comprising slot cutting means having a cutting blade, a rotary dial having spaced radially-arranged pockets to receive shanks of screw blanks with the hex-heads thereof exposed on the periphery of the dial for slotting by said slot cutting means, said pockets moving along a predetermined path with said screw blanks, and means for holding the blanks against turning during the slotting operation, the improvement comprising means disposed substantially parallel to the cutting blade of the slot cutting means and slidably engaged by flats on the sides of the hexheads of the screw blanks for aligning the hexheads in a predetermined relationship to the plane of operation of the slot cutting means while the blanks are being moved through the predetermined path with the dial toward the slot cutting means and are free to turn relative to said dial prior to their being held against turning; said means disposed substantially parallel to the cutting blade including first, second, and third successive sectionspositioned along said path ahead of said means for holding the blanks, each substantially parallel to said blade; said first section being spaced a sufficient distance away from the path of said hex-heads to enable said screw blanks to turn freely within said pockets; said second section including a first surface substantially parallel to said cutting blade and extending to a first location adjacent the path of said hex-heads, said first surface engaging and aligning said hex-heads; and said third section including a second surface parallel to said first surface and extending to a second location adjacent the path of said hex-heads, for holding said screw blanks more firmly in said third section as said screw blanks approach the slot cutting blade.

2. A screw slotting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the aligning means comprises a bifurcated aligner suitably supported in a substantially fixed relationship. to the plane of operation of the slot cutting means and having one leg with said first surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said plane to be slidably engaged by a flat on one side of a hex-head, and another leg with said second surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said first surface to be slidably engaged by another flat on the diametrically opposite side of the screwhead, for aligning the screw-head in a predetermined relationship to the plane of operation of said slot cutting means before the screw is held against turning.

3. A screw slotting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the aligning means comprises a bifurcated aligner suitably supported in a substantially fixed relationship to the plane of operation of the slot cutting means and having one leg with said first surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said plane to be slidably engaged by a flat on one side of a hex-head, and another leg with said second surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said first surface to be slidably engaged by another flat on the diametrically opposite side of the screwhead, for aligning the screwhead in a predetermined relationship to the the plane of operation of said slot cutting means before the screw is held against turning, said first and second surfaces being in ably engaged by aflat on one side of a hex-head, and

another leg with said second surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said first surface to be slidably engaged by another flat on thediametrically opposite side of the screwhead, for aligning the screwhead in a predetermined relationship to the plane of operation of said slot cutting means before the screw is held against turning, said legs being movable relative to one another and resiliently urged toward one another. I

5. A screw slotting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the aligning means comprises a bifurcated aligner suitably supported in a substantially fixed relationship to the plane of operation of the slot cutting means and having one leg with said first surface on its inner s des an lxpa le tq Said Pl nsw he d: ably engaged by afiat on one 'side of a hex-head, and another leg with said second surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said first surface to be slidably "engagedby another flat on the diametrically opposite side of the screwhead, for aligning the screwhead in a predetermined relationship to the plane of operation of said slot cutting means before the screw is held against turning, said legs being pivoted relative to one another at one end and resiliently urged toward one another.

6. A screw slotting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the aligning means comprises a bifurcated aligner suitably supported in a substantially fixed relationship to the plane of operation of the slot cutting means and having one leg with said first surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said plane to be slidably engaged by a flat .on one side of a hex-head, and another leg with said second surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said first surface to be slidably engaged by another flat on the diametrically opposite side of the screwhead, for aligning the screwhead in a predetermined relationship to the plane of operatlon of said slot cutting means before the screw is held against turning, said legs being pivoted relative to one another at one end and resiliently urged toward one another, there being adjustable means limiting the spacing of the legs relative to one another.

7. A screw slotting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the aligning means comprises a bifurcated aligner suitably supported in a substantially fixed relationship to the plane of operation of the slot cutting means and having one leg with said first surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said plane to be slidably engaged by a flat on one side of a hex-head, and another leg with said second surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said first surface to be slidably engaged by another flat on the diametrically opposite side of the screwhead, for sligning the screwhead in a predetermined relationship to the plane of operation of said slot cutting means before the screw is held against turning, and means for adjusting the spaced relationshipof said legs to one another to suit different sizes of hex-heads.

8. A screw slotting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the aligning means comprises a bifurcated aligner suitably supported in a substantially fixed relationship to the plane of operation of the slot cutting means and having one leg with said first surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said plane to be slidably engaged by a flat on one side of a hex-head, and another leg with said second surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said first surface to be slidably engaged by another flat on the diametrically opposite side of the screwhead, for aligning the screwhead in a predetermined relationship to the plane of operation of said slot cutting means before the screw is held against turning, and means for adjusting the spaced relationship of said legs to one another to suit different sizes of hexhea ds said legs being resiliently urged toward one another.

9. A screw slotting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the aligning means comprises a bifurcated aligner suitably supported in a substantially fixed relationship to the plane of operation of the slot cutting means and having one leg with said first surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said plane to be slidably engaged by a flat on one side of a hex-head, and another leg with said second surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said first surface to be slidably engaged by another flat on the diametrically opposite side of the screwhead, for aligning the screwhead in a predetermined relationship to the plane of operation of said slot cutting means before the screw is held against turning, and means for adjusting the spaced relationship of said legs to one another to suit different sizes of hex-heads, said legs being resiliently urged toward one another, but the adjusting means serving to adjust the legs positively away from one another to a predetermined spaced relationship.

10. A screw slotting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the aligning means comprises a bifurcated aligner suitably supported in a substantially fixed relationship to the plane of operation of the slot cutting means and having one leg with said first surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said plane to be slidably engaged by a flat on one side of a hex-head, and another leg with said second surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said first surface to be slidably engaged by another flat on the diametrically opposite side of the screwhead, for aligning the screwhead in a alter the spaced relationship of said legs. =1: a a 

1. In a screw slotting machine comprising slot cutting means having a cutting blade, a rotary dial having spaced radiallyarranged pockets to receive shanks of screw blanks with the hexheads thereof exposed on the periphery of the dial for slotting by said slot cutting means, said pockets moving along a predetermined path with said screw blanks, and means for holding the blanks against turning during the slotting operation, the improvement comprising means disposed substantially parallel to the cutting blade of the slot cutting means and slidably engaged by flats on the sides of the hex-heads of the screw blanks for aligning the hexheads in a predetermined relationship to the plane of operation of the slot cutting means while the blanks are being moved through the predetermined path with the dial toward the slot cutting means and are free to turn relative to said dial prior to their being held against turning; said means disposed substantially parallel to the cutting blade including first, second, and third successive sections positioned along said path ahead of said means for holding the blanks, each substantially parallel to said blade; said first section being spaced a sufficient distance away from the path of said hex-heads to enable said screw blanks to turn freely within said pockets; said second section including a first surface substantially parallel to said cutting blade and extending to a first location adjacent the path of said hex-heads, said first surface engaging and aligning said hex-heads; and said third section including a second surface parallel to said first surface and extending to a second location adjacent the path of said hex-heads, for holding said screw blanks more firmly in said third section as said screw blanks approach the slot cutting blade.
 2. A screw slotting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the aligning means comprises a bifurcated aligner suitably supported in a substantially fixed relationship to the plane of operation of the slot cutting means and having one leg with said first surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said plane to be slidably engaged by a flat on one side of a hex-head, and another leg with said second surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said first surface to be slidably engaged by another flat on the diametrically opposite side of the screwhead, for aligning the screw-head in a predetermined relationship to the plane of operation of said slot cutting means before the screw is held against turning.
 3. A screw slotting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the aligning means comprises a bifurcated aligner suitably supported in a substantially fixed relationship to the plane of operation of the slot cutting means and having one leg with said first surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said plane to be slidably engaged by a flat on one side of a hex-head, and another leg with said second surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said first surface to be slidably engaged by another flat on the diametrically opposite side of the screwhead, for aligning the screwhead in a predetermined relationship to the the plane of operation of said slot cutting means before the screw is held against turning, said first and second surfaces being in longitudinally spaced offset relationship to one another so that first one is effective and thereafter the other.
 4. A screw slotting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the aligning means comprises a bifurcated aligner suitably supported in a substAntially fixed relationship to the plane of operation of the slot cutting means and having one leg with said first surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said plane to be slidably engaged by a flat on one side of a hex-head, and another leg with said second surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said first surface to be slidably engaged by another flat on the diametrically opposite side of the screwhead, for aligning the screwhead in a predetermined relationship to the plane of operation of said slot cutting means before the screw is held against turning, said legs being movable relative to one another and resiliently urged toward one another.
 5. A screw slotting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the aligning means comprises a bifurcated aligner suitably supported in a substantially fixed relationship to the plane of operation of the slot cutting means and having one leg with said first surface on its inner side substantiallY parallel to said plane to be slidably engaged by a flat on one side of a hex-head, and another leg with said second surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said first surface to be slidably engaged by another flat on the diametrically opposite side of the screwhead, for aligning the screwhead in a predetermined relationship to the plane of operation of said slot cutting means before the screw is held against turning, said legs being pivoted relative to one another at one end and resiliently urged toward one another.
 6. A screw slotting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the aligning means comprises a bifurcated aligner suitably supported in a substantially fixed relationship to the plane of operation of the slot cutting means and having one leg with said first surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said plane to be slidably engaged by a flat on one side of a hex-head, and another leg with said second surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said first surface to be slidably engaged by another flat on the diametrically opposite side of the screwhead, for aligning the screwhead in a predetermined relationship to the plane of operatIon of said slot cutting means before the screw is held against turning, said legs being pivoted relative to one another at one end and resiliently urged toward one another, there being adjustable means limiting the spacing of the legs relative to one another.
 7. A screw slotting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the aligning means comprises a bifurcated aligner suitably supported in a substantially fixed relationship to the plane of operation of the slot cutting means and having one leg with said first surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said plane to be slidably engaged by a flat on one side of a hex-head, and another leg with said second surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said first surface to be slidably engaged by another flat on the diametrically opposite side of the screwhead, for sligning the screwhead in a predetermined relationship to the plane of operation of said slot cutting means before the screw is held against turning, and means for adjusting the spaced relationship of said legs to one another to suit different sizes of hex-heads.
 8. A screw slotting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the aligning means comprises a bifurcated aligner suitably supported in a substantially fixed relationship to the plane of operation of the slot cutting means and having one leg with said first surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said plane to be slidably engaged by a flat on one side of a hex-head, and another leg with said second surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said first surface to be slidably engaged by another flat on the diametrically opposite side of the screwhead, for aligning the screwhead in a predetermined relationship to the plane of operation of said slot cutting means before the screw is held against turning, and means for adjusting the spaced relationsHip of said legs to one another to suit different sizes of hex-heads, siad legs being resiliently urged toward one another.
 9. A screw slotting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the aligning means comprises a bifurcated aligner suitably supported in a substantially fixed relationship to the plane of operation of the slot cutting means and having one leg with said first surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said plane to be slidably engaged by a flat on one side of a hex-head, and another leg with said second surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said first surface to be slidably engaged by another flat on the diametrically opposite side of the screwhead, for aligning the screwhead in a predetermined relationship to the plane of operation of said slot cutting means before the screw is held against turning, and means for adjusting the spaced relationship of said legs to one another to suit different sizes of hex-heads, said legs being resiliently urged toward one another, but the adjusting means serving to adjust the legs positively away from one another to a predetermined spaced relationship.
 10. A screw slotting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the aligning means comprises a bifurcated aligner suitably supported in a substantially fixed relationship to the plane of operation of the slot cutting means and having one leg with said first surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said plane to be slidably engaged by a flat on one side of a hex-head, and another leg with said second surface on its inner side substantially parallel to said first surface to be slidably engaged by another flat on the diametrically opposite side of the screwhead, for aligning the screwhead in a predetermined relationship to the plane of operation of said slot cutting means before the screw is held against turning, resilient means urging the legs in one direction with respect to one another, and screw threaded adjusting means acting positively in the other direction to alter the spaced relationship of said legs. 